Allow me to introduce Rich Thomas, a member of this ministry’s Board, attorney and counselor for our various needs, and a true friend for decades. Rich and Zola met on a Holy Land tour and, after returning to Dallas, became better acquainted. All this happened before I joined the ministry in 1988.
Over the past 20 years, Rich has helped me handle our outreach’s toughest challenges, including negotiating business transactions and minimizing legal exposure and expenses. Rich is a Dallas native (as is his wife of 50 years), and he holds a BBA and Law degree from SMU. He volunteered for the Navy in WWII and was recalled during the Korean War. Before his retirement, he was Associate General Counsel and later a Vice President of a Fortune 500 company. Decades ago, Rich took Matthew 25:31 to heart and began working with The Ruff House, a Christian shelter for the homeless and handicapped.
Rich wrote the letter below to apprise you of God’s guidance during this ministry’s transition since Zola’s departure.
Friend,
Come with me as we look back over the past two years since Zola received his promotion. The ministry has accomplished many good things—we all have witnessed God’s guidance and have seen His hand at work.
To start with, no Disaster Plan had been put together with respect to Zola’s retirement, illness or pre-Rapture assent. After all, Zola had just had his second coronary bypass operation just nine months before he passed, and he seemed to be in good spirits and good health. Moreover he was only 67 and seemed to have many years to serve the Lord. And as you may know, he really wanted to be here in the mortal realm when the Rapture came.
Also, as many recall, he often wrote about and discussed the End Times. He pointed out to us that the formation of the State of Israel in 1948 and the return of the Jews from all corners of the earth clearly marked God’s Time Clock regarding the End Times. He showed us as well that an abundance of prophecy was rapidly coming to pass.
When Zola passed away, his son Mark took the lead, together with Sandra (Zola’s widow) and Ken Berg, producer of the ministry’s TV program. Mark had been with the ministry for 18 years and had come up through the ranks to become General Manager in 1988. Following Zola’s death, Mark had the dual responsibility, together with Sandra, of handling Zola’s affairs while charting a course for the continuing operation of the ministry. This was no easy job because Zola was not only a good businessman, but also was truly gifted. Witness his teaching, the music he composed and performed, the books he wrote, his knowledge of the Bible, the Holy Land and more. Supplementing all that, he was a truly fun fellow to be with.
Here was the plan of action: find a Messianic Jew who really knows the Bible, is comfortable before the TV camera and telegenic, and has a good speaking voice. On top of that, he had to have the right credentials.We wanted Hebrew schooling and credible seminary training, practical experience in teaching, writing and speaking as well as knowledge of the Holy Land, and perhaps some published works. To compose and play music as well would have been asking too much.
Mark began the search with Zola’s old friend Moishe Rosen, Founder of Jews for Jesus. Moishe offered several possibilities, whom Mark and Ken Berg evaluated. After discussions, deliberation and plenty of prayer, none of the prospects were a perfect fit. Mark then turned to an old friend of the ministry, Jeff Seif, to visit with and get counsel. At the time, Jeff was a professor of theology at Christ For The Nations here in Dallas.
PTL, Jeff expressed an interest in joining the ministry and helping.
Ultimately Mark called on the ministry’s board of directors, its advisory board and other friends of the ministry to help in the evaluation process. After all, hiring Zola’s successor could make or break the ministry’s ability to fulfill God’s calling.
Everyone who was involved prayed for God’s guidance as our close-knit team formulated a job description and drafted a letter of employment. With God’s blessing, we came to a collective, anointed agreement, and here’s what the ministry got in May 2006:
Jeff Seif, a Messianic Jew, raised in the Jewish tradition and knowledgeable of Hebrew. Jeff is a Bible scholar holding a theology doctorate from SMU. He has practical experience in teaching and writing, having co-authored with Zola our book The House that God Built and the twelve correspondence courses in the ministry’s Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies. Additionally, Jeff is an effective communicator on television, and he is quite telegenic. One downside—he does not compose or play music, so Mark is making him take piano lessons (just kidding).
In addition to Jeff, Sandra has extensive knowledge of the Bible and co-hosts the TV productions, leads Holy Land tours, and writes for the Levitt Letter. Our staff has received numerous complements from churches who have hosted Sandra as a guest speaker. Incidentally, Will King, the ministry’s man-on-the-ground in Israel, is Sandra’s son. He works full-time for Bridges for Peace and he is enrolled in graduate school in Israel, majoring in Biblical Studies. For years he has written accurate, timely articles for the Levitt Letter. He also participates in the Holy Land tours with Sandra and Jeff.
Ken Berg of Berg Productions is another key soldier in the ministry’s efforts. Ken has been planning and producing the TV programs since Day One—for 29 years. Ken and his experienced crew have made roughly 50 trips to film programs in the Holy Land.
It almost goes without saying that the office staff is extremely dedicated and very professional—keeping daily operations running smoothly.
So, how is the ministry doing?
Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) awarded us their highest rating of four stars for financial efficiency for the fourth year running.
We’ve produced seven new TV series including In the Footsteps of the Rabbi from Tarsus.
Zola Levitt Presents now broadcasts internationally, including Europe and the Middle East.
www.levitt.com offers a vast collection of on-demand TV programs, a searchable archive of Levitt Letters, discussion board, chat room, slide show of Israel, free music and much more.
Jeff, Sandra, Dr. Tom McCall and Dr. Todd Baker speak in churches, taking the message of prophecy fulfillment and Christianity’s Jewish roots. Dr. McCall, as you may know, has co-authored seven books with Zola. Dr. Baker oversees The Shalom, Shalom congregation here in Dallas, founded by Zola years ago.
The sleeker Levitt Letter not only costs less to mail than the old size, but it also zips faster through the mail system—I like the new look, how about you?
We have taken 30 To-the-Jew-First missionaries to Israel, over and above subsidizing a group trip of 17 college-aged missionary workers.
In a nutshell, the ministry keeps getting better and better, all to the Glory of God.
In His service,
Rich Thomas
Counsel and Director since 1982
P.S. My fellow board members and I extend our special thanks to Mark, Ken, Jeff and Sandra for shepherding the ministry through these past two years, and to the staff for all that they have achieved.
Dear Rich,
Thanks for sharing the ministry’s recent history. I agree that it keeps getting better in terms of Bible teaching and glorifying God.
“Here is my gift for April. Please put it to use where it will do the most good—whether in television broadcasting, newsletter distribution, etc.”
These two television productions are dedicated to the viewers and readers who have loved Zola like a family member.
“Remembering Zola” was recorded at Zola’s memorial service and includes video highlights of past telecasts and special music as well as tributes to a never-to-be-forgotten warrior of the faith.
“In Loving Memory,” is a tribute to Zola by those who knew him best. His widow, Sandra Levitt, talks with Zola’s family, friends, and co-workers in this special half-hour reminiscence of a man who planted seeds of faith in millions of lives.
After giving his own testimony, Zola devotes chapters to the Jews, Muslims, Palestinians, the government, media, education, churches, End Times, and questions and answers.
Zola accepted Jesus as his Messiah on March 14, 1971. Within several years, he authored a dozen books and hosted a live talk-radio program. Zola’s ministry expanded to television. Zola produced over 700 hours of television that reached millions. This retrospective series brings you a few highlights of Zola’s work, music, and life.
Thirteen of the New Testament’s 27 books bear Paul’s seal and signature. Consequently, he is the New Testament’s principal interpreter of what it means to be “Christian.” Jeff looks closely at Paul and the fact that the major “Christian” interpreter lived, acted, and thought as a “Jewish rabbi.” St. Paul, a rabbi?
